Railway traffic controlling apparatus



Oct. 16, 1934.

H. s. YOUNG 1,976,822

RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 24. .1951

Demodinq UiPc'uii ('ozziavf IN VENTOR. Henry 5. Young,

IQ/RW HIS ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 16, l34

entree stares RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATU Henry 5'. Young,Wilkinsburg, .Pa., assignor' 1:6 The Union Switch & Signal Company,Swiss vale, Pa a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 24,-1931, Serial No. 577,0 58 BenewedFebruary 27, 1933 I4 Claims.

My invention relates to railway traffic control ling apparatus, and morespecifically to apparatus for deenergizing a switch motor in the eventthat the switch fails to complete its stroke within a predetermined timeinterval.

One object of my invention is to employ a time element approach lockingrelease relay to perform the additional function of providing overloadprotection for the switch motor. Other objects and advantages Willappear from the description which follows.

I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and willthen point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic View of one form of apparatusembodying my invention, in which is shown a stretch of railway trackcontaining a switch, and control relays and apparatus for releasing theapproach locking, effecting movements of the switch, and deenergizingthe switch motor automatically after a definite time interval should theswitch become obstructed.

In providing protection to a switch motor against heavy currents appliedfor prolonged intervals such as result when a switch is obstructed ithas been the practice to employ overload devices usually comprising someform of thermosensitive element. A thermal relay operating upon thethermostat principle is a common form of such device, and a normallybalanced circuit breaker in which an unbalance of forces is createdunder overload conditions due to the change in resistance of a materialhaving a temperatureresistance coefficient is another form.

In the thermostat type of protection; apart from the frail constructionwhich is generally necessary for sensitive response, there is also thedisadvantage that a time lag is introducedfor permitting the thermalelement to cool previous to a repeated application of power in the samedirection as caused tripping of theoverload apparatus. The balancedcircuit breaker arrangement requires accurate adjustment, also involvesa time interval for cooling although this interval is usually shorterthan that required by the thermostat type of breaker, and is relativelyexpensive because it generally requires a somewhat complicatedmechanism.

In approach locking systems wherein a time element device is used toefiect the automatic release of the approach locking, it becomespossible to eliminate the usual thermal overload apparatus by employinga contact on the time ele ment device to deenergize the switch motor atthe expiration of a predetermined time interval in the event that theswitch fails to complete its stroke within the required time asdetermined by normal operating conditions. My invention is directed tothe elimination of the thermal overload protection through the use of atime interval of the time element approach locking release relay. Thismethod is of particular advantage in applications of centralized trafficcontrol to the operation of remotely located switches where frequentadjustment and maintenance of overload apparatus become undesirablebecause of the comparatively large distances between the operatedfunctions and the central control point.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown a stretch of railway trackdivided into sections A--B, BC and 0-D, each having the usual source ofenergy 2, and a track relay designated by the reference character T witha distinguishing exponent. Section -B--C contains the switch 1Y5v Eoperated by the motor M. Switch E in turn operates the circuitcontroller F and the controllers G and G The cut-out controller F isoperated by the switch E in such manner that contact 4445 is closed atall times except when the switch occupies its extreme reverse position,and contact 44-47 is closed at all times except when the switch occupiesits extreme normal position. The indication circuit controllers G and Gare operated by the switch in such manner that both controllers are inthe upper position which results in short-circuiting the indicationrelays NK and RK at'all times except when the switch occupies itsextreme normal or extreme reverse position, whereupon. controller G or Grespectively, becomes moved to the lower position.

Signals S and S control trafiic entering sections B-C and 0-3respectively, and may be manually governed from the despatchers officeas well as being controlled by the home relays H and H in the usualmanner. Relays L 'and L are approach locking relays, one for eachdirection of traffic, and relay TE is a time element approach lockingrelease relay. The approach 100 locking circuit involving the homerelays H and H track relays T, T and T approach locking relays L and Land approach locking release relay TE is of the usual form and it isbelieved that no detailed explanation of the 105 operation of thiscircuit is necessary, it being well known in the art.

I Relay W is a polarized switch control relay and relays NK" and RK arethe usual normal and reverse switch indication relays, respectively. 0

7 is adjusted.

Relay Z is an auxiliary switch control relay, cooperating with relay Wto effect operation of the switch E and having additional functionswhich will become apparent when the circuit diagram, presently to bedescribed, is traced. Relays NW and RW are normal and reverse switchcontrol relays, respectively, which becomeenergized, one at a time,following the transmission ofsuitable code impulses from any controlpoint such as a despatchers OffiCE. Relay TEP repeats certain contactson the time element approach locking release relay TE, and its purposeand manner .of operation will be explained hereinafter.

With switch E in the normal position and the control apparatus in thecondition illustrated, let it be assumed that the operator wishes toreverse switch E. To do this, he will send out a code to pick up relayRW, and relay NW will become deenerg'med. In place of the relays NWandRW, any suitable manually controlled selector for polechanging therelay ,Wcan be used. The control for relays NW andRW is not shown indetail but it will be, sufficientfor thepurpose of my present inventionto indicate that when one of the relays NW or RW is energized, the otherrelay becomes deenergized. The deenergization of relay ,NW will causerelay NK tobecome deenergized at front contact 3-4 of relay; NW. If nowtrack relay T and approach locking relays .L and L are all energized, asshown, the 'deenergization of relay NW and energization of relay RW willcomplete a circuit for pole-changing. relay W to the reverse position,which circuit may be traced fromjone terminal X of a suitable source,wire 5, front contact 6-7 of relay RW, wire 8, relay W, wire 9,front'contactloof relayL wirell, front contact. 12 of relay T wirel3,fr0nt contact 14 of relay L wire 15, back contact l6- -l7 of relayNW, and wire 18 to the other terminal 0 of the same source.

Also, if the time element relay TE is deen-.-. ergized as shown, and hasreturned to its fully deenergized position in which'checking contact19-20 (which contact checks the fully deenergized'position of this relayto insure that the full time interval will be initiated each time relayTE becomes energized) is closed, relay TEP will become energized over acircuit starting from one terminal X of a suitable: source,.back contact21 and checkingicontact' 19-.e20 of relay TE, wire 22, and relay TEPto'the other terminal 0 of the source. It-will be understood that thechecking contact 19-20 remains closed, only when relay TE is in itsfully deenergized position, and opens immediately after-thisrelay-begins topick up and the time element is set into motion, theotherback contacts of relay TE being of such character that they remainclosed until just prior to the expiration of the time interval for whichthis relay The energization of relay LTEP will complete the followingcircuit for energizing relay Z, -starting-at one terminal X of asuitable source, front contact 23 of relay W, wire 24, back contact 25.of

relay RK, wire 26, back contact 2'7 of relay NK,

wire 28, wire 29, front contact 30 of relay TEP, wires 31 and 32, andrelayZ to the other terminal 0 of the source; Relay W having'becomepolechanged as previously explained, the energization of relay Z closesthe following circuit for operating switch motor M to reverse switch E,starting at one terminal X, front contact 23 of relay W, wire'24, wire33, front'conta'ct 34 of relay Z, wire 35, conta-ct'3637 of relay W,.wire 38,.armatu're 39 of motor-M, wire 4o,- contact4l- '42 of relay W,

wire 43, contact 44-45 of controller F, and field winding 46 of motor Mto the other terminal 0 of the source. Motor M will now begin to moveswitch E toward the reverse position.

It will be noted that the energizing circuit for relays NW and RWcomprises two branch paths, the first of which includes wire 48, andback contact-49 of relay Z, and the second of which includes wire 50,and back contact 51 of relay TE.

The energization of relay Z opens the first of said two branch paths andalso completes a circuit for energizing relay TE, which may be traced bystarting at one terminal X, front contact 52 of relay'Z, wire 53, frontcontact 54 of relay L wire 55, front contact 56 of relay L wire 57,front contact 58 of relay T wire 59, and relay TE to the other terminal0 of the source.

As soon as relay TE begins to pick up, check- 11 3 Contact l920 willopen, deenergizing relay TEP, but the opening of front contact 30 ofrelay TEP will not release relay Z because once relay Z will havebecomepicked up, it wlll remain energized by virtue of a stick circuitwhich short-circuits contact 30 of relay TEP, and which includes wire60, front contact 61 of relay Z, and wire 62.

-From the descriptionso far given it will be apparent that theenergization of relay Z causes the motor'M and the time element relay TEto begin operating at the same time. If the switch completes its strokebefore the expiration of the time interval of relay TE, relay RK willbecome energized over a circuit starting atone terminal X, wire 63,contact 6=l65'of controller G wire 66, contact 6768 of relay W, wire 69,front con- 1 tact 7071 of relay RW, wire 72, relay RK, wire 73, wire'74, back contact of relay NK, wire '76, contact TL-'78 of controller Gand wire '79 to the other terminal Oof the source. As soon as relay RKbecomes energized, it will deenergize relay Z at back contact 25 ofrelay RK'and the release of relay Z will, in turn, open the circuit formotor M as well as the circuit for relay TE, permitting the time elementmechanism of this relay to be restored to its initial position.

When this occurs, all of the apparatus will be in proper condition foreffecting another switch operation to restore switch E from the reverseto the normal position in which it is illustrated. That is, theoperator. can send out a code, to energize relay NW, deenergizing relayRW, as a result of which relay W will be pole-changed to its normalposition, relay TEP will be picked up to energize. relay Z, which inturn will close the circuit for motor M and will start the time elementfor relay TE at the same instant. The se- 'quence of operation of theapparatus for restoring the switch to its normal position will thereforebe thesame as that already described in connection with a movement ofthe switch from normal to reverse. r a

should the switch become obstructed during its movement from the normal'tothe reverse position, the time element mechanism of relay TE willcontinue to function meanwhile, until the time interval for which thisrelay has been ad justed will have expiredi When this occurs, 're-' layRW will release because the second branch path for energizingrelay-RWwill be open at back contact 5l-of relay TE, the firstbranchpath having been opened previously at back contact- 49 of relay Z. Therelease-of relay RW-will deenergize relay' W, opening the motor circuitand; the circuit for relay Z-at front contact 23 of;

relayW.

1 device.

'The description just given shows that when the switch becomesobstructed, the motor circuit will become deenergized automatically atthe end of a predetermined time interval which begins at the instantpower is applied to the motor. Should it appear desirable to establish atime interval for deenergizing the motor circuit which will be ofshorter duration than the time interval established for the automaticrelease of approach locking, relay TE can be designed in such mannerthat the time interval required to open back contact 51 will beindependently adjustable. That is, relay TE can be provided with twoadjustable time intervals, as for example, a longer interval for therelease of approach locking and a shorter interval for the switch motoroverload protection. In this manner, high speed switch movements can beadequately protected against overload conditions. I

After relay W and relay Z become deenergized following an overload, theycannot again be energized to move the switch until the operator sendsout a code to pick up the NW or the RW relay and also until relay TEreaches its fully deenergized position for picking up relay TEP. Shouldthe operator decide to reverse the switch control while the switch is intransit or is blocked, he can do this without waiting for the expirationof the time interval of relay TE, but in all cases no switch operationwill result until relay TEwill have returned to its normal, fullydeenergized position, which insures that the full time interval requiredfor a switch operation will be available under all conditions, beforethe switch begins to operate.

The description given in connection with relay TE concerns chiefly itsfunction of providing overload protection. It will be apparent, however,that should a train enter section A--B with signal S indicating proceed,and shortly thereafter the 'despatcher should deenergize relay H tocause signal S to assume its"stop indication, approach locking relay Lwil become deenergized and will close a pick-up circuit for relay TEstarting at one terminal X, back contact 80 of relay H wires 81,82and83, back contact 84 of relay L ,'wire 55, front contact 56 of relay Lwire 57-, front contact 58 of relay T wire 59, and

' relay TE to the other terminal 0 of the same source. Therefore, relayIE will become energized and after a predetermined time interval willenergize'relay L over a circuit starting at one terminal X, back contact80 of relay H wires 81,182 and '85,'front contact 86 of relay TE, wires8'7, 88 and 89, and relay L to the other terminal 0 ofthe same source.

The energization of relay TE following a release of relays L and H asexplained above will occur automatically and will release the approachlocking. The pick-up of relay L will deenergize relay TE and as soon asthis relay reaches its fully deenergized position, the operator mayattempt to move the switch in the manner already described. Therefore,it will be apparent thatrelay TE is capable of performing an automatictime interval release of the approach locking, and upon subsequentenergization, relay TE will provide overload protection for the switchmotor, thus combining both functions in the one Since relay 'I'EP servesmerely to repeat the back contact 21 and checking contact 19--20 ofrelay TE, it does not form an essential element of my'invention, becausethe series contacts 21 v and 19+-20 can be substituted for front contact30 of relay TEFWithoiit afiectingthe operation of the circuit asdisclosed. However, in practice, it may prove desirable to pass signalcircuits through the checking contact 1920 in order to check theintegrity of the time element mechanism as a precaution against thepremature release of the approach locking. Therefore, since the checking'contact'is used forv the overload protection, front contacts on relayTEP, which repeat this checking contact, become available for the signalcircuits.

Although I have shoWn th'e time element relay applied to a particularform of approach lock: ing'circ'uit and to a particular form of switchoperating'circuit', it will be apparent that this relay can be readilyappliedto any suitable approach locking and switch operating circuit forperforming thecombined function of time element approach locking releaseand switch motor overload protection.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatusembodying my inven tion, it is understood that various changes andmodifications maybe made therein within the scope of they appendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a main section of railway track containing a switch,an approach section, a signal for governing trafiic into said mainsection, an approach locking relay for preventing movement of saidswitch if said approach section becomes occupied when said signalindicates proceed, a releaseielay controlled in part by saidapproachllocking relay and in part by a manually controlled device forat times nullifying the effect of said approach locking relay, a circuitfor operating said switch governed by said manually controlled device,and means controlled by said release relay for atother times disablingsaid circuit if the switch fails to complete its stroke within apredetermined time interval.

2. In combination, a main section of railway track containing a switch,an approach section, a signal for governing tralfiic into said mainsection, an approach locking relay for preventing movement of saidswitch if said approach section becomes occupied when said signalindicates proceed, a time element device controlled in part bysaid'approach locking relay and in part by a manually controlled devicefor at times nullifying the effect of said approach looking relay, acircuit for operating said switch governed by said manually controlleddevice, and means controlled by said time element device for at othertimes disabling said operating circuit if the switch fails to completeits stroke within a predetermined time interval.

3. In combination, a section of railway track containinga switch, anapproach locking relay governed in the usual manner by trafiicconditions adjacent said section for at times preventing movement ofsaid switch, a slow acting device controlled in part bysaidapproach'locking relay and in part by manually controlled means andcapable of rendering said approach locking relay ineilective to preventmovement of .said switch at the expiration of a predetermined timeinterval following actuation of said slow acting device, a

a circuit for operating said switch governed by said manually controlledmeans, and means controlled by said slow acting device effective aftersubsequent actuation of said device for interruptingsaid circuit if theswitch fails to complete its stroke within predetermined time interval.

4. In combination, a section of railway track containing a switch,anxapproach locking relay governed in the usualmannerjby. traflic: conditions adjacent said section-forat times preventi movement of saidswitch, a time element mecha* nism having afirst'and a second timeinterval and controlled in: part by. said approach locking relay and inpart by a manually controlled device, means governed by said timeelement mechanism for nullifying the effect of said approach lockingrelay'at the expiration of said first time intervaL-a circuit foroperating, said switch governed by said manually controlled device, andother means governed by said time element mechanism eifective aftersubsequent actuation of saidmechanism following the expiration of saidfirst timeinterval for interrupting said operating circuit if the switchfails to complete its stroke within said second. time interval.

5. Incombination, a section of.-railway track containing a switch, anapproach locking relay governed in the usual .manner bytrafiit:.conditions adjacent said section for at times'preventing movementofisaid switch, a manually controlled release relay for at timesnullifying the effect of said approach locking relay, a circuit'foroperating said switch, manually controlled means for energizing saidcircuit and said release "relay simultaneously at such times as saidapproach locking relay is inefiective to prevent movement of saidswitch, and means'governed by said release relay for disablingsaid'circuit if the switch fails to complete its stroke within apredeter= mined time interval.

6. In combinationya railwayswitch, an approach locking relay acting whendeenergized to prevent movement of said switch, a time-measur ing devicenormally occupying a firstposition and arranged when operated to assumea second position after a measured time interval, means effective ifsaid relay becomes deenergized, under certain traffic. conditions to setsaid device into operation whereby'a pick-up circuit for said relay willbecome closed when said device attains its secondpositiommeans forrestoring said device to its first position after; said pick-up circuitbe comes closed, a circuit for-operating said switch,

manually controlled means for energizing said operating circuit aftersaid devicehas reached its first position and said relay is energized,other means for setting said device into operation when 5 said operatingcircuit becomes energized, and

means governed by said device for interrupting said operating circuit ifsaid switch failsto complete its stroke within said measuredtimeintervaL'7. In combination, a railway switch, a locking relay controlled-attimes in accordance with traffic conditions for preventing movementofsaid switch, a manually controlled stick circuit for said locking relay,2. time element relay having an initially closed contact which is closedonly when the relay is fullydeenergized and a time-interval contactwhich opens at the expiration of a predetermined time interval, apick-up circuit for said locking .relaycontrolledby said-time elementrelay, a circuit for operating :said switch, a switch control relay forenergizing-said operating circuit,- amanually controlled selector; apick-up circuit for said switch control relay including said manuallycontrolled selector, a front contact of said locking relay, and saidinitially :closed contact of I the time element relay; 2. stickcircuitfor said switch control relay including said manually controlledselector, a front contact of said locking relay, and a front contact ofsaid switch control relay; a first pick-up circuit for said time elementrelay-including aback contact of said locking relay,a second pick-upcircuit for said time element relay including a front contact of saidlocking relay and a-front contact of said switch control relay, andmeans governed bysaid time element relay for deenergizing said stickcircuit for the switch control relay if the switch fails to completeits, stroke within the time interval required for said time intervalcontact to open.

8. In combination with a two position track switch, a switch controlrelay having two energized positions corresponding to the two positionsof the switch, manually operable means operable from a remote point forenergizing said relay to one position or the other, a stick relay, atime element device, a pickup circuit and a stick circuitfor the stickrelay closed only when the switch control relay is energized to aposition out of correspondence with the position of the switch, thestick circuit including a front contact of the stick relay and thepickup circuit ineluding a contact closed only when the time ele mentdeviceoccupies its normal deenergized position, a motor circuit, meansfor-closing said'circuit when the stick relay becomes energized tooperate the switch to a position corresponding to that of the switchcontrol relay, a second circuit closed when the stick relay becomesenergized for actuating the time elementdevice, means for openingthemotor circuit when the operation of the switch is completed, andmeans controlled by the time element device for opening the motorcircuit if the switch fails to complete its operation within apredetermined time interval.

9. In combination with a two'position track switch, switch control meanshaving two energized positions corresponding to the two positions ofthe. switch; manually operable means operable froma remote point forenergizing said means; an auxiliary relay; means for energizing saidauxiliary relay when the switch control means is energized to a positionout of correspondence with the position of the switch; a motor circuit,means including a front contact of the auxiliary relay for closing saidcircuit to operate the switch to a position corresponding to that of theswitch control means; means controlled by the switch for opening saidcircuit when the operation of the switch is completed, and timemeasuring means controlled by the auxiliary relay for opening saidcircuit if the switch fails to complete its operation within apredetermined time interval.

10. In'combination with a two position track switch, switch controlmeans having two energized positions corresponding tothe two positionsof theswitch; manually operable means operable from a remote point forenergiz-. ing said means; an auxiliary relay; means for energizing saidauxiliary relay when the switch control means is, energized to aposition out of correspondence with the position of the switch{ a motorcircuit, means including a front contact of the auxiliary relay forclosing said circuit to operate the switchto a-position corresponding tothat of the switch control.

means; means controlled by the switch for opening said circuit when theoperation of the switch is completed, and means controlled by theauxiliary relay for deenergizing the switch control meansif saidauxiliary relay remains energized for more than a predetermined timeinterval, whereby the motor circuit will be opened. if the switch failsto complete its operation within said time interval.

11. In combination with a two position track switch, switch controlmeans having two energized positions corresponding to the two positionsof the switch; manually operable means operable by a momentary impulsefrom a remote point for energizing said switch control means; a timeelement relay; operating circuits for the switch, and a circuit forenergizing the time element relay; means for closing one or the other ofthe switch operating circuits and the circuit for the time element relaywhen the switch control means is energized to a position out ofcorrespondence with the position of the switch, and means effective ifthe time element relay remains energized for more than a predeterminedtime interval for releasing said manually operable means to therebydeenergize said switch control means to open said circuits if the switchfails to complete its operation within said time interval.

12. In combination with a two position track switch, manually operableswitch control means having two energized positions, a time elementrelay arranged to move from a normal deenergized position to a reverseposition when energized for a predetermined time interval, operatingcircuits for the switch, means for closing one of said circuits when thetime element relay is in its normal deenergized position and the controlmeans is energized to a position out of correspondence with the positionof the switch, the closed circuit being opened when the position of theswitch and its control means correspond; a

circuit for energizing the time element relay closed when either switchoperating circuit is closed, and means controlled by the time elementrelay when in its reverse position for disabling said manually operablemeans to thereby open said circuits.

13. In combination with a two position track switch, manually operableswitch control means having two energized positions, switch indicationmeans arranged to be energized to indicate correspondence in positionbetween the swtich and its control means, an auxiliary relay, operatingcircuits for the switch, means for closing one or the other of saidcircuits in accordance with the position of the control means when saidauxiliary relay is energized, and means for energizing said auxiliaryrelay for a predetermined time interval only when the switch controlmeans is energized and the switch indication means is deenergized.

14. In combination with a two-position track switch, manually operableswitch control means having two energized positions, switch indicationmeans arranged to be energized when the switch and its control meansoccupy corresponding positions, an auxiliary relay, operating circuitsfor the switch, means including a contact closed when said auxiliaryrelay is energized for closing one or the other of said circuits inaccordance with the position of the control means, and means forenergizing said auxiliary relay for a predetermined time interval onlywhen the switch control means is energized and the switch indicationmeans is deenergized.

HENRY S. YOUNG.

